Test adapter from the 3D printer

We design individual test adapters for you to electrically contact your assemblies. Whether you want to contact a circuit board or an assembled device – thanks to our specialization in additive manufacturing processes, we can provide you with an inexpensive solution with short delivery times.

→ Discover our range of test adapters

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Visit us at electronica 2024

We look forward to showing you our range of products and services at electronica in Munich from November 12 to 15, 2024. You will find us in Hall B3, Stand 560/3. You need a ticket for electronica 2024?

No problem, just send us a email to: info@eloprint.de

Your advantages with our test adapters

Fast

Thanks to the design, manufacture and assembly of our needle adapters in-house, we are independent of external suppliers. The first test adapters can be delivered within 1-3 weeks.

Cheap

Thanks to the 3D printing-optimized designs of our needle adapters, our costs are well below the market average. Since we only calculate our development costs once, additional, identical test adapters are particularly inexpensive.

ESD protection

For use in ESD-protected areas, our test adapters are provided with a special coating or are optionally made entirely of special ESD material.

Flexible

Circuit boards? Individual components? Assemblies? Entire devices? We develop and produce the appropriate test adapter.

Compact

Our compact and robust needle adapters can be integrated into almost any production line.

Maintenance-free

Our needle adapters are designed for several million cycles without maintenance. Only the test contact pins have to be replaced after 10,000 to 100,000 cycles, depending on the application. The replacement is usually carried out without special tools.

Test adapter designs

For common requirements, we offer needle adapters in the 4 designs BAL, PRL, POL and IDL. Completely customized needle adapters or mounting devices are also possible. The shape and size of all our test adapters are always individually adapted to the assembly to be tested. Thanks to the additive manufacturing process, special features in the needle adapter can be easily taken into account.

BAL

This BAL design was specially developed for small circuit boards.

Double-sided contacting is also possible with this.

BAL

PRL

POL

IDL

INDIVIDUAL

Details →

BAL

PRL

The PRL design is particularly suitable for small and medium-sized boards.

It is characterized by very good usability and good accessibility of the circuit board when clamped.

PRL

Details →

BAL

PRL

POL

IDL

INDIVIDUAL

D-Sub

POL

The POL design is suitable for large boards. It can hold down the circuit board at any point and make double-sided contact if necessary.

The robust mechanism allows contacting hundreds of test points.

POL

Details →

BAL

PRL

POL

IDL

INDIVIDUAL

IDL

This IDL test adapter was specially developed for very large boards.

A robust adapter that reliably contacts even large quantities of very large circuit boards.

IDL

Details →

INDIVIDUAL

IDL

POL

PRL

BAL

Details →

INDIVIDUAL

Are our standardized needle adapters not suitable?

We manufacture custom solutions for you, e.g., for assemblies in housings or contacts on different sides

Individual adapters

BAL

PRL

POL

IDL

INDIVIDUAL

Price calculator

Calculate the non-binding net costs for your test adapter

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Our printing processes

MSLA (Masked Stereolithography)

MSLA offers the highest level of detail, smooth surfaces, rapid layer curing, and is ideal for intricate components and small batch production.

SLS offers high strength, precision, and the production of complex shapes, making it ideal for durable test fixtures.

SLS (Selektives Lasersintern)

Inkjet

Inkjet enables precise complex geometries using UV-curable photopolymer droplets and water-soluble support material.

FDM offers a variety of materials, versatile design possibilities, and affordable as well as easy handling.

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)

Individual features

Thanks to the additive manufacturing process, special features in the needle adapter can be easily taken into account, be it for unusual designs of the test objects or special requirements for the test adapters:

Display and controls in the test adapter

Side contacts

Sensors in the test adapter

Exemptions of certain areas of the examinee

Test needles from any manufacturer or we make a suggestion

Permanently installed electronic components in the needle adapter (e.g. ISP, measurement cards, multiplexer, etc.)

Contacting of test points, pads, vias, solder joints, connectors, …

Infohub

Welcome to our info hub! Here you will find compact and practical information about our 3D test adapters. Discover technological details and helpful instructions that will help you optimize your testing processes.

Our printing processes

Replacing the rubber base

Specifications test adapter

Connector options

Test needle replacement

Switch contact pin

Thanks to our customers for many exciting projects

Ordering process

Step 1

Calculate price

Simply calculate the expected cost of your needle adapter yourself using our price calculator .
We ask for your understanding that the costs may vary depending on individual requirements.

Step 2

Inquiries

Send us your requirements for the needle adapter. In particular, we need:

Number of test points
Dimensions and shape of the board
Information about large, heavy or protruding components
Plugs to be released
Are currents over 1 ampere flowing?
Special requirements

Possible data formats:

Photos / Screenshots / Drawings

3D data of the test object (.stp / .iges)

2D data of the test object (.dxf)

Please use our contact form

Download test point template

Step 3

Inquiries / Offer

We always endeavour to process your queries within 24 hours in order to be able to provide you with an individual offer for your needle adapter as quickly as possible. If you have any queries, you can reach us at the email address info@eloprint.de, the telephone number +49 711 50480481 or via the following contact form.

Step 4

Order

When ordering, we ask you to provide a test sample for testing purposes. This will of course be returned to you undamaged together with the needle adapter.

Step 5

Development / Manufacturing

As soon as we receive your order, we start designing your test adapter. Once we receive your test piece, we can check the tolerances and smooth functioning and then production can be completed.

Step 6

Delivery

We will hand over your test adapter to a suitable shipping service provider within the agreed delivery time.

Press reports about test adapters from ELOPRINT

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Frequently asked questions

What advantages do customized 3D printing test fixtures offer compared to conventional solutions?

Custom 3D printing test fixtures offer cost efficiency, fast delivery and customization. They enable precise contacting of assemblies and increase quality assurance.

Can I also get a test adapter for entire devices or other electronic components?

It doesn’t always have to be circuit boards. Individuality is our strength. Whether the circuit board is already installed in the housing, needs to be contacted from different directions or you want to test individual components such as connectors, coils or ICs – we create the right test adapter!

Can individual components (programmers, circuit boards, display elements, etc.) be included in the test adapter?

Thanks to the additive manufacturing of our test adapters, we can respond to your requirements very individually. Simply tell us the dimensions of the components you require.

I need several test adapters, how does this affect the costs?

The development and production costs are already shown separately in our price calculator. Since the development costs only occur once, a volume discount is automatically generated. Even if you reorder identical test adapters at a later date, you only incur the production costs for the individual needle adapters.

Does it have to be a separate contact pad, or can a solder contact on a connector or similar be used?

Solder joints can generally be contacted. However, we advise against this, as the contact can be impaired by flux residues. There are special test needles that enable reliable contact. However, this can affect the service life of the test needles.
Connector pins can also be contacted. However, it is important that the connectors are always in the same place after the soldering process and are not at an angle. If this cannot be guaranteed, floating contact units can be used in the test adapter, which align themselves with the connector.

What is the minimum size of a test point?

That depends on the precision of your circuit board manufacturer. Test points with a diameter of 0.8 mm or more can typically be contacted without any problems. For smaller test points, it is important that the catch holes or the external geometry do not have high tolerances. Basically, of course, the bigger the better.

Are catch holes required on the board?

Two catch holes with as much distance as possible between them are advantageous. The diameter of the holes is not important. If there are no catch holes on the test piece, it can be guided in the test adapter using its external geometry. As with the catch holes, the manufacturing tolerance of the board must be taken into account. In particular, if the board is manufactured in a panel and only broken edges are available, the test points should be larger than the tolerances of the external geometry.

What are the main differences between the different 3D printing processes used in the production of test adapters?

Choosing the most suitable 3D printing process for producing test fixtures is crucial.

Materials : Each process uses specific materials that affect the properties of the test fixtures.

Level of detail : MSLA and SLS offer exceptional precision, making them ideal for intricate parts.

Speed : Printing speed varies between processes, with MSLA often being faster due to its method of curing entire layers at once.

Cost : Cost is also an important factor, with FDM known for its cost-effectiveness, while MSLA and SLS tend to be more expensive due to specialized materials and technology.

What electrical interface does the test adapter have?

D-Sub connectors have proven to be a good standard. They are robust, standardized and available with various numbers of pins. If required, we can also provide other connectors in the test adapter according to your requirements.

What does ELOPRINT need to create a test adapter?

To ensure a smooth process, we ask for the following:

– 3D model of the test object (STEP file)

– Coordinates and pin assignment of the test points (our Excel template)

– Provision of a test object to test the needle adapter after assembly

– If you cannot provide everything, please contact us, we will always find a solution.

Which test adapter design is right for my application?

This is always a case-by-case decision. Since the effort and costs for the BAL, PRL and POL designs increase, we always check first whether the cheaper design is suitable. In the illustrations of the individual designs you will find some case studies that can serve as a guide. As soon as you tell us your general conditions, we will be happy to advise you on which needle adapter is the right one.

Can the test adapters make contact from above and below at the same time?

The BAL and POL test adapters can be used to make contact with circuit boards on both sides. Lateral contact (e.g. of connectors) is also possible with additional effort.

What is the minimum pitch between the test points?

Test points with a distance of 1.27 mm or more (center to center) correspond to our standard and can be implemented without any additional effort. The minimum distance that can be achieved with our technology is currently 0.5 mm.

Is there a maximum number of contacts a test adapter can have?

An exact limit cannot be given as it depends heavily on the position and spring force of the test needles to be used. In addition, each design must be considered separately:

BAL: 50 test points are usual. If the test points are arranged close to the edge and/or the test object is not very large, significantly more test points are possible.

PRL: The transmission of the lever mechanism could easily overcome the force of hundreds of test needles. However, the board is only held down at its sides. Therefore, it must always be considered whether a bending moment that is too great could arise. For large boards with many test points arranged in the middle, the POL design should therefore be selected.

POL: Several hundred test points can be contacted without any problem.

In special cases, it is always possible to reinforce the test adapters in order to cope with the forces that occur.

Contact

Please enter your contact details in the contact form on the right and describe your requirements for your needle adapter. We will get back to you shortly.

To ensure a smooth process, we ask you to fill out the template linked below and upload it. This allows you to specify the coordinates of your test points. You can also specify the desired pin assignment for the adapter interface and any special features such as high currents or RF signals. You are also welcome to add any other requirements for your needle adapter to this document.

Download template

Contact us at:

info@eloprint.de

+49 711 50480481

Please fill out the contact form for initial contact: